Ophthalmic mounting



May 6,1941- J. E. MERRILL 2,240,511

OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING Filed March 24, 1938 IWENTOR.

JOHN E Mge/1,

Patented May 6, 1941 34E C MOUNTING .lohn 1E. Merrill, Southbridge,ll/iiass., assigner to Company, Southbridge, Mass., a voluntaryassociation ci Massachulmerican @pticall setta .application March 2i,i938, Serial No. M183? (Ul. Silfill 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in optithalmic mountings and hasparticular reference to improved lens holding means and method of makingthe same.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a novelconstruction of lens strap or lens holding means of a type havingresilient means for easing off the rigidity of the connection of saidlens holding means to the lens wherein the said resilient means will bemore positively held in desired relation with the lens strap or lensholding means during use, and to provide a novel method of making'andassembling the parts of such lens holdingmeans.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means and method ofsecuring the resilient sections to the lens strap or lens holding means.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means and method oftaking up any looseness and play in the connected parts whereby the saidparts will be more positively maintained in desired aligned relationwith each other during use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention should become apparentfrom the following de-s scription taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing and it will be apparent that many changes may bemade in the details oi construction, arrangement of parts and methodsshown and described without departing from the spirit of the inventionas expressed in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to belimited to the exact details of construction, arrangement of parts andmethods shown and described as the preferred forms only have been givenby way of illustration.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. I is a front elevation of an ophthalmic mounting embodying theinvention;

Fig. II is a plan view of a portion of the lens holding means or lensstrap illustrating one step in the process of manufacture;

Fig. IIIis a longitudinal sectional view of the bar stock from which theconnecting means embodying the invention is formed and illustrating astep in the process of manufacture;

Fig. IV is a sectional view taken as on line IV-IV of Fig. III;V

Fig. V is a View generally similar to Fig. III illustrating another stepin the process of manufacture;

Fig. VI is a transverse sectional view oi' the bar stock illustrated inFig. V;

Fig. VII is a perspective view showing the parts of Figs. II and V inassembled relation with each other and illustrating another step in theprocess of manufacture;

Fig. VIII is an end View of the lens strap or lens holding meansillustrating further steps in the process of manufacture;

Fig. IX is a front view of the lens strap or lens holding meansillustrated in Fig. VIII showing the same positioned on a lens; and

v the type having resilient means for easing off the connection of thelens holding means to the lens are very desirable, much diiiiculty hasbeen encountered in the past in obtaining a practical method and meansof securing the resilient means to such lens straps or lens holdingmeans whereby the assembled parts will maintain a positive desiredaligned relation with each other during use.

Many diierent arrangements have been tried and although some of thesearrangements were practical, from the viewpointv of utility, they wereeither difcult or expensive to manufacture.

The present inventionvis directed particularly to novel means and methodof forming and assembling the parts of such lens holding means or lensstraps wherein the various parts maybe more positively secured indesired relation with each other and may be quickly and easily assembledduring the process of manufacture. Another feature of the presentinvention is to provide novel means and method of durably maintainingthe parts in desired aligned relation with acters of reference designatelike parts throughout the several views. the device embodying theinvention comprises broadly a pair of lenses I connected by a bridgemember 2 and having temple supporting end pieces 3 thereon to which ysuitable temples 4 are pivotally attached.

'Ihe feature embodying the invention similarly pin 9. 'I'hebar stockapplies to each of these lens straps but, for ease of description, onlythe means and method of securingf the resilient means to the "on-centertype strap is given.

Although the pin has been described as being face of the portion 6. Thisstep of the process is described as butt soldering.

butt soldered to the portion 8 prior to placing the resilient sectionsI4, I5 and I6 thereon and prior to the heating and compressing of thepin member to displace the body thereof to take up any looseness or playbetween thev pin 9 and the attaching openings in the resilient sectionsand to simultaneously form the head 20 on the pin, it is to beunderstood that the resilient sections I4.

I5 and I 6 may be placed on the pin 9; the said i pin and resilientmeans located in desired relation with the portion 6 of the strap andheat and pressure-thereafter applied of an amount sumcient to secure thepin member to the strap and simultaneously displace said pin member soas to cause the body thereof to take up any looseness and play of theresilient means on said l pin member and to form an integral headoverlying said resilient means.

The lens strap may be thereafter tted to the lens so that the openings 8therein will be aligned with the attaching opening in the lens and withthe resilient means engaging the adjacent edge of the lens. The saidstrap may be secured to the lens in this position.

I n forming the lens strap. or lens holding means;y embodying theinvention, sheet material having a precious metal coating on one sidethereof, or of solid precious metal, is run through suitable blankingdies which cut the material to the shape shown in Fig. II. This blankedout shape provides a central portion 6 which, in. the

finished product, is adapted to overlie the edge of the lens, and alsoprovides ear portions 1 which are adapted to overlie the opposedsurfaces of the lens. The ears 1 are provided with openings 8 which areadapted to be aligned with a suitable opening in the lens to receiveconnecting means, such as screws, solder pins, or any other desirableconnecting means known in the art, by which the lens strap may bepivotally secured to the lens. One of the surfaces, preferably thesurface which is to be positioned inwardly of the lens strap, is skivedor otherwise cleansed and prepared to receive the connecting pin 9, asshown in Fig. VII.

The pin 9, as shown in Figs. III and IV, .ls formed of bar stock I0 ofgold lled, nickel, 'or silver material having an inner core II of asuitable solder, such as hard silver solder, therein. 'I'his coreextends longitudinally of the bar stock.

' The bar stock in its initial form has a circular cross section asillustrated in Fig. IV.

The bar I 0 having the silver solder core there- `in is then run throughsuitable rolling dies which shape it to the finished cross-sectionalshape desired of the pin 9 which, in this instance, is of a rectangularshape such as shown in Figs. V and VI. This step In the process alsoreduces the bar stock to the outside diameter desired of the I8 is thencut substantially to the length desired for the pin 9.

The pin 9 is then placed and held in desired the assembled relation withthe blanked out part of the lens strap or lens holding means of Fig.Il', as shown in Fig. VII, with one of its ends engaging the centralportion 6. Heat of a suitable temperature is then applied to theassembled parts of Fig. VII to cause the inner solder core Il to flowand secure the pin 9 to the inner vsur- 'I'he pin 9 may be cut to theproper length prior to said soldering or may be cut to the lengthdesired after the said soldering. The assembled parts of Fig. VIII areput through a suitable mitre device for squaring up or truing the partsto desired relation with each other.

'I'he ears 1, as shown in Fig. VIII, are then bent to assume asubstantially parallel relation with each other and to position theopenings 8 in substantially aligned relation with each other. Theportion 6 is then secured to the depending bridge supporting portion I2or to the temple supporting endpiece 3 as the case may be.

The resilient means I3 which comprises a plurality of resilient sectionsI l, I5 and I6 of varying lengths, as shown in Fig. IX, and which havecentral openings therein of substantially the same contour shape as thecross-sectional shape of the pin 9, are placed-in assembled relationwith said pin 9, as shown in Figs. VIII to X, inclusive. The assembledresilient means and lens holding means are then placed in a suitableholding device and a suitable hot riveting tool l1 is moved intoengagement with the pin 9. Heat is then applied to the pin 9, eitherelectrically or otherwise, of such a temperature as to permit the bodyI8 of said pin to be compressed against the side walls I9 of the variousresilient sections to take up any of the looseness which may exist inthe fitting of the various resilient sections on the pin 9 and also topermit the pin to spread out and form a head 20 for positively securingthe various resilient sections to the inner supporting face 2| of theportion 6. It is to be born in mind that the pin 9 has been soldered.preferably hard soldered, to the inner supporting surface 2| of theportion 6, as illustrated at 22. This operation being performed by buttsoldering the pin 9 to the portion 6, as illustrated in Fig. VII, and aspreviously described above.

The step of securing the various resilient sections, I4, I5 -and I6, tothe pin 9 as described above is designated as a hot riveting process.

'I'his step includes the displacing of the body of pin I8 `to take upany looseness and play between the pin 9 and attaching openings in theresilient sections andato simultaneously form .the head 20 on the pin.This step also compensates for any variations in the lengths of the pinmembers 9 and securely anchors the resilient sections in substantiallyintimate relation with each other and in intimate relation with theattaching seat 2| of Ithe lens strap.

'I'he attaching seat 2|, as shown in Fig. X, is provided with a curvedsurface substantially equal to that of the curved shape*- of theresilient section I6 andis so formed as to obviate any tendency of thevarious resilient sections to straighten out and lose their desiredcurved shape during the securing thereof to the lens strap.

Although applicant has set forth soniefbf the intermediate steps in theprocess of manufacture, the essence of the invention more particularlyresides in the step of butt soldering the pin 9 to the portion 6 of thelens strap, positioning 4the various spring sections on said pin memberand thereafter applying heat and pressure suiiicient to bring about thehot riveting step of the process described above. The body I8 of the pin9, during this step of the processis forced into intimate relation withthe side Walls I9 of the openings in the resilient sections and the head2li is simultaneously turned over the various resilient sections' toforce them into intimate relation with each other and with thesupporting seat 2| of the lens strap. This process provides simple,efcient and dependable means and method of securing the said resilientmeans -to said lens strap wherein variations of the fit and sizes oi theparts are quickly and easily compensated for during the process ofanchoring the resilient sections on the pin member.'

Although applicant has shown and described the lens strap or lensholding means as comprising two portions i for overlying the oppositefaces of the lens, it is to be understood that the said lens strap mayhave only one of said portions i, as is common practice in the art.

The construction of the lens strap t' is generally similar to that ofthe lens strap ii, the only dierence being that the various resilientsections, pin members, and so forth, are secured to the inner surface ofan upwardly projecting lug 23 on the lens strap t'. This is for thepurpose of providing a more balanced resilient action on the oppositesides of the pivot connection 2i to the lens. I

It is to be understood that although the pin 9 is described herein asbeing formed with a solder core, and that it is butt soldered to the"portion 6 of the lens strap, that the said pin may be formed of solidstock and Welded to the inner surface of the portion 6 if desired.

It is also to be understood that although the pin is described as beingbutt soldered to the inner surface of the portion E, the said por-tion 6may be formed with arr opening. The pin may be formed to such a lengthas to have a portion extending inwardly of said opening and maythereafter be soldered or Welded therein. In this instance, as in theinstance stated above, the various spring sections may thereafter beplaced on the pin v9 and the hot riveting process completed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. The method of forming lens holding means comprising a portion shapedto overlie a face of the lens and a portion shaped to overlie an edge ofthe lens, placing a pin member having a solder core internally ofanopening in resil ient means, placing the said pin member and resilientmeans in assembled relation with a portion shaped to overlie the edge ofthe lens and applying heat to said pin member sufficient to cause thesolder to iiow between said pin member and portion shaped to overlie theedge ofthe lens and simultaneously applying pressure on said pin membersunicient to cause the end thereof opposite -the portion shaped tooverlie the edge ofthe lensto iiow outwardly over the resilient meansand form an integral head, the said solder being adapted to congeal uponcooling and to'cause said pin member to be secured to said portionshaped to overlie the edge of the lens.

2. The method of forming a lens holding means comprising providing aportion shaped to overlie a face of the lens and a portion shaped tooverlie an edge of the lens, placing a pin inem ber partially composedof solder inwardly of an opening, of substantially the same form as'that portion of 'the pin adapted to lie therein, in resilient meanshaving a thickness 4less than the length of said pin member, placingsaid resilient means and pin member in assembled substan tially flushrelation with each other and with the portion shaped to overlie an edgeof the lens and applying heat to said pin member of a temperaturesufiicient to cause the solder to melt and flow between the said pinmember and a l portion shaped to overlie an edge oi the lens andsimultaneously applying pressure on said pin member suiicient lto causethe length of the same to be decreased and to/simultaneously cause theend thereof opposite the end towards the portion shaped to overlie anedge of the lens to iiow outwardly over the resilient means to form anintegral head on said pin member of greater area than said opening andprotruding outwardly of the surface which it overlies, the said solder,upon cooling being adapted tosecure the portion shaped to overlie theedge ofthe lens to said pin member While maintaining the securingportion within the limits of said opening, and said resilient means insaid flush relation.

` JOHN E. MERRILL.

